Country Information

Capital: Roseau

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 767 Outgoing Code: 1 (for the USA, Canada and most Caribbean Islands), 011 for other countries

Emergency telephone numbers: 999

Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism Organisation, 42 Westminster Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR Tel: (020) 7222 4335 Fax: (020) 7222 4325.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of Canada and the USA who must have suitable ID and onward travel tickets. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Not required by: Nationals of commonwealth countries for stays of up to 6 months. Nationals of the USA for up to 6 months. Nationals of all other countries for stays of up to 21 days. Enquire at the nearest Embassy or High Commission for the latest, complete list of regulations regarding visas.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink.

Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents. Travellers cheques are accepted in most hotels – US Dollars preferred.
All major credit cards have limited acceptance.
ATM availability: 1 location

Cost of living: Not as expensive as some of the other Caribbean islands.

Languages: English. Creole French is spoken by most of the population.

Weather: Hot, subtropical climate all year round. Raining season June – Oct, which is also the hottest time

Electricity: 220/240 volts AC 50 Hz.

Post: Post to Europe takes approximately 14 days. There is no Poste Restante service.

Transport: ROAD: There are more than 700km of well maintained roads on the island, although even these can be difficult when driving. BUS: Service exists but is unpredictable. TAXIS: Are the most efficient means of transport. CAR HIRE: Available but driving can be difficult. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended. A valid foreign licence can be used to get a temporary visitors licence.

Special information: Beach wear should be kept to the beach or pool side. PHOTOGRAPHY: Permission should be asked before taking photos of local people.

Capital: Santa Domingo

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 809
Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: 711/809 472 7111

Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism Organisation, 42 Westminster Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR Tel: (020) 7222 4335 Fax: (020) 7222 4325.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Must remain valid for 6 months following date of departure. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact Embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Israel,Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, the UK, and Uruguay as tourists only for a maximum of 90 days. Nationals of Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and foreign nationals who are legal residents of Denmark, France, UK, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain in possession of a valid passport and tourist card. Nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA and Peru in possession of a legal tourist card valid for 60 days from point of entry. NOTE: Refer to the nearest consulate for a complete, up to date list of regulations for all countries.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination Required. – Polio is endemic.
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in particular areas in the Falciparum variety, which has been reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine.
Other Health Risks: Rabies, Bilharzia Dengue Fever and Hepatitis

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Dominican Republic Peso (RD$) = 100 centavos.
NOTE Import and export of local currency is prohibited.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques, in any international currency, are accepted by some banks.
ATM availability: Over 100 locations.

Cost of living: The best buys are the island’s own handicrafts, such as amber jewellery and decorative pieces encasing insects, leaves or dewdrops. Other bargains are wood-carvings, limestone carvings and Dominican turquoise.

Languages: Spanish. English is also spoken.

Weather: Hot tropical climate. Rainy season June – Oct when possible hurricanes may also occur.

Electricity: 110 volts AC 60 Hz.

Post: 7 days. Advisable to post all mail from the central post office in Santo Domingo.

Transport: ROAD: There is a reasonable network of roads although not all are all weather and 4 wheel drives are recommended for wet weather. BUS: Cheap and efficient service runs from the capital to the main towns. CAR HIRE: Several car hire companies are present. DOCUMENTATION: IDP or national licence can be used. NOTE: Min. age for driving is 25. Credit cards are recommended when paying for car hire.

Special information: The Dominican Republic is now a major tourist destination. A variety of activities are available for all types of traveller, from a Las Vegas-style review and casinos to classical concerts. Store valuables in hotel safety deposit boxes. Unaccompanied women should exercise vigilance at night around hotels.

Capital: Algiers

Time zone: GMT + 1

Telephone services: Country Code: 213
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not available at present.

Tourist information: Algerian Consulate 6 Hyde Park London SW7 5EW Tel: (020) 7589 6885 Fax: (020) 7589 7725

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the Consulate before travelling.

Visa information: Visa required by all except nationals of the following countries: Argentina, Benin, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea Republic, Libya, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovenia, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, Serbia and Montenegro.

Health information: Polio Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Limited Risk
Yellow Fever: Recommended. Certificate is required if arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia present.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Take local advice and normal precations with food.

Currency: Algerian Dinar (AD) = 100 centimes
NOTE: when exchanging money a receipt is required that should be presented on departure. Foreign money must be declared via a declaration form and stamped at arrival.

Very limited acceptance of credit cards. Travellers cheques can only be changed in 4-star hotels. French francs are the preferred currency.

ATM availability: Over 100 locations.

Cost of living: Visitors should expect to pay much more than local people.

Languages: Arabic French and English are spoken in tourist centres.

Weather: During the Summer the temperatures can be very high with humid weather in the North. Travel delays can be caused by sandstorms and coastal towns are also prone to storms.

Electricity: 127/220 Volts. Plugs = European 2-pin

Post: Airmail from the main cities takes 3-4 days from elsewhere it takes much longer.

Transport: RAIL: Daily services between the main centres. COACH: Not recommended for long journeys. ROAD: Most are in good condition. NOTE: For desert travel vehicles must be in good working order as breakdown facilities are virtually non-existent. Water and petrol supplies must be carried. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. If your own car is used a Carnet de Passage also be required. Insurance must be purchased at the border. Proof of ownership is essential.

Special information: HIGH RISK. The Travel Advice Unit of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against travel to Algeria unless on essential business. There have been a number of attacks on tourists. Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers who intend to travel despite this advice should exercise extreme caution and make only necessary journeys in Algeria.

Capital: Tallinn

Time zone: GMT + 2 (+2 from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the last Sunday in September.)

Telephone services: Country Code: 372
Outgoing Code: 810

Emergency telephone numbers: Ambulance – 03 (Tallinn – 003), Police – 02 (Tallinn – 002), Fire – 01 (Tallinn – 001)

Tourist information: Estonian Tourist Board, Mundi 2, EE-0001 Tallinn, Estonia, Tel (2) 411 420 Fax: (2) 411 432.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, Japan. Nationals of Denmark. Nationals of Andorra, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Monaco, New Zealand, Poland, San Marino, Slovak Republic, and Vatican City. For the latest information contact the relevant authorities at least 3 weeks before finalising travel arrangements.

Health information: Other Health Risks: Rabies.

Food & drink: Water is considered drinkable, normal precautions should be observed with food.

Currency: 1 Kroon = 100 sents. (Br)
Exchange: US$ and Deutsche Marks are widely accepted.
Credit cards are accepted on a limited basis. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at most banks. Preferred currency is US dollars.

ATM availability: Over 200 locations.

Cost of living: No information available at present

Languages: Estonian. Some Russian may also be spoken.

Weather: There is rainfall throughout the year with the heaviest falling in Aug. Heavy snow falls are likely in the winter months. The climate has large temperature variations. Summer can be quite warm but winter, lasting from Oct – Mar, can be very cold.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. European 2 pin plugs are used.

Post: Approx. 6 days.

Transport: RAIL: The rail system is underdeveloped but the most major cities are connected to the network. SEA/RIVER: Ferries connect the mainland with the main Islands. ROAD: There is a high density of roads although there are few major highways. Careful driving is advised and driving at night is not recommended. It is best to remember that spare parts are not always available. CAR HIRE: Hertz agencies are present in Tallinn. DOCUMENTATION: European nationals should be in possession of the new ‘European Driving Licence’. BUS: A wide network of routes are operated including express services. Prices are very low and buses are still the most important means of transport. TAXIS: Agree fare in advance.

Special information: It is advisable to take a supply of medicines as they are unlikely to be available (Aspirin etc.). Visitors should take care to respect Estonians’ sense of national identity. Crime is an increasing problem for tourists in Tallinn.

Capital: Cairo

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 20
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Egyptian State Tourist Offic, 170 Piccadilly, London, W1V 9DD Tel: (020) 7493 5282 Fax: (020) 7408 0295. Opening hours Mon. to Fri 0930 – 1630.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all and must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay in Egypt. Return Ticket Required. requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the appropriate consular authority before finalising travel arrangements.

Visa information: Required by all except: nationals of Malta, and Jordan (if holding a passport valid for at least 5 years) for a stay not exceeding 30 days. Nationals of Bahrain, Djibouti, Guinea, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen for a stay not exceeding 90 days. Tourist and Business, single or multiple entry types granted.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination Required.
Malaria: No risk in Cairo or Alexandria but falciparum and vivax varieties exists from June to October in the El Faiyoum area.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required if arriving from infected areas. Check with embassy as to which areas Egypt considers infected.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Malaria, Rabies.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Egyptian Pound (£E) = 100 piastres
There are 5 national banks and 78 branches of foreign banks.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: 88 locations

Cost of living: Tourists can expect to pay higher prices than locals.

Languages: Arabic, English and French are widely spoken

Weather: Hot and dry during the summer with dry winters with chilly nights. Dusty winds from the Sahara prevail during April.

Electricity: 1220 Volts 50 Hz are most common. 110/380 volts AC may also be used.

Post: Approximately 5 days by airmail. There are Post Restante facilities at the main post office in Cairo. a small fee is charged when the mail is collected.

Transport: RAIL: A good rail network exists. TAXIS are available in the cities and are metered although it is advisable to agree the fare in advance.

Special information: NOTE: Because of continuing tensions in the region travellers should keep themselves informed of developments. Within Egypt itself, recent attacks in the last few years by extremist groups have been aimed at police and local institutions but have also been aimed at tourists. Care should be taken when travelling in the southern part of the country in Luxor and beyond in the Nile Valley. Take advice from local security authorities.

Capital: Hamilton

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 441
Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 911.

Tourist information: Bermuda Tourism, 1 Battersea Church Road, London SW11 3LY Tel: (020) 7771 7001 Fax: (020) 7771 7037.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the Embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visas are not required for stays of up to 3 weeks.

Health information: No vaccinations are compulsary, but please seek medical advice before travelling.

Food & drink: Water is considered drinkable, normal precautions should be observed with food.

Currency: Bermuda Dollar (Bda $) = 100 cents
Export of local currency is usually limited to Bda$ 250. US Dollar cheques are widely accepted. MasterCard American Express Visa and Diners Club are all accepted in hotels shops and restaurants.
ATM availability: 54 locations.

Cost of living: Very Expensive. Bermuda is a holiday destination for affluent tourists.

Languages: English is the official language. There is a small community of Portuguese speakers.

Weather: Semi-tropical climate, with cool sea breezes. Showers can occur at any time of the year.

Electricity: 110 Volts AC 60 Hz. American flat, 2-pin plugs are used.

Post: Airmail: 5 – 7 days to Europe.

Transport: ROAD: Visitors are not allowed to drive in Bermuda. TAXI: Official taxis display a small blue flag.

Special information: Most hotels and restaurants require jacket and tie in the evening. Social conventions are mostly British influenced.